E-DRUG: Future education for pharmacists in Africa
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[Crossposted from DRUGINFO with thanks.
To respond DO NOT CLICK REPLY, Please send replies as a new message to b.futter@ru.ac.za
WB]
In 2 weeks time, I will be attending an FIP workshop to take part in developing a new vision for the future education of pharmacists. Preliminary discussion indicates a trend towards training for a more clinical role. However, this presupposes similarity between needs, challenges, resource availability and accessibility (for example, practice and training facilities, appropriately qualified and motivated students and staff, efficient and fully staffed health systems, and appropriate employment opportunities for new graduates etc.).
I will be representing a vision for Africa. Your responses to one or more of the following questions will help me respond to questions, and offer suggestions at the workshop.
I will report back on the proceedings to members of this list, specifically to encourage further debate. One of my proposals is to establish an up-to-date database about pharmacist and pharmacy technician/ assistant training in Africa. To the best of my knowledge, none exists at present. This makes it difficult to identify continental needs or develop a continental response to the challenges that face us.
Your assistance would be sincerely appreciated.
Please send your replies to me personally at b.futter@ru.ac.za . I will post a summary of the replies to the list. Thank you.
Cheers, Billy
WT Futter M Comm. ACIS. PGDHE.
Associate Professor
Faculty of Pharmacy, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa
b.futter@ru.ac.za
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Questionnaire - Future Vision of Pharmacy Education
Please send replies to b.futter@ru.ac.za
1. At present, what do you regard as the most important medicine- related priorities of Africa? (focus on the needs as you see them from your country/ region?)
2. What are the most significant difficulties experienced by African countries in meeting these priorities? What are the most important gaps and weaknesses?
3. If you were to predict 10 - 20 years ahead, what changes do you envisage? Do you see a change in priorities?
4. How will these changes influence the knowledge and skills that African pharmacists need? i.e. will they need the same or different competencies? (e.g. clinical, regulatory, industrial)? If new knowledge and skills are required, which would you rank as the most important? Why?
5. Are there better ways to train pharmacists? What innovations would you recommend?
6. What are the most serious challenges that will have to be overcome to bring about curriculum changes in African pharmacy training institutions?
7. Should pharmacy education in developing countries differ significantly from those in developed countries? If so, what significant differences do you envisage?
8. What would be your vision for pharmacy education in the future?